Steam-turbine.



VPATENTED FEB. 6, 1 906.

W. E. SHEPARD. STEAM TURBINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1 2 1904.

10 SHEBTS-SHEET 1 2d INV NTUH I03 v j f L ah 1mm! L7 MW ATTORNEYWITNESSES PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

W. E. SHEPARD.

, STEAM TURBINE.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1904..

10 SHEET$-SHEET 2 l :u :l

I, I I

WITNESSES: 2

- v Inventor, a flfi/a Q By .iptomey W. E. SHEPARD.

STEAM TURBINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 12, 1904.

PATENTED- FEB. 6, 1906.

1o SHEETS-SHEET s.

No. 811,878 PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

a W. E.VSHEPARD.

STEAM TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12 1904.

SHEETS-SHEET 4- I PATBNTED FEB. 6, 1808; w. E. SHEPARD.

STEAM TURBINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 12. 1904.

10 SHEETSSHEET 5.

V S ENTORX/ 2 M Fig.6 'wfi/ww- No. 811,878. PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

W. E. SHEPARD. STEAM TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULYIZ, 1904.

1 1 D W i WITNESSES: g gng/ amon bdgflw/fl W M) W M BY ATTORNEY '10SHEETS-SHEET 6.

No. 811,878 PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

W. E. SHEPARD. STEAM TURBINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 12, 1904.

w we

$.24. Jig-29 WITNESSES: C (360MB Flg'lli gi PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906. W. E.SHEPARD.

STEAM TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY12,1904.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

l as 1.96

- I m NEY No. 811,878. PATENTED mm, 1906.

W. E. SHEPARD.

STEAM TURBINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1904.

l0 SHBETSSHEET 9.

| VENTOR ATTORNEY No. 811,878. PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

W. E. SHEPARD. STEAM TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12,1904.

S-SHBBT 10.

UNITED STAZIES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. SHEPARD, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

STEAM-TURBINE.

Specification of LettersPa-tent.

Application filed July 12. 1904.: Serial n '2'1'e,2"14

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. SHEPARD,

, a citizen of" the United States of America,

prove the regulation ofthe'wheel by shutting and a resident of Paris,France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ISteam-Turbines, of whichthe following is a specification.

elastic-fluid turbines, but more particularly to a turbine of theradial-flow type; and my' general object is to construct a turbine soasto operate in the most reliable, easy, and economicalmanner.

More particularly, one ob ect of the present invention is a turblne havig but one wheel and having the elastic m tive fluid so. disposed'that itacts more than once on the same wheel, thus permitting use of much lowervelocities of rotation than are usually required by steam-turbines onthe impulse type, it being-known that for the economic o eration of suchwheels the buckets of the w eel must have a velocit equal to onehalfthat of the impelling uid that-strikes against it.

Another object of my invention is to facilitate the economicalconstruction of the wheel and the other parts which heretofore have.-

been the source of very large expense andto construct a wheel with aminimum number of parts and in a minimum number of operations.

Another object of my invention is to imoff or turning on the motivefluid completely from one of a plurality of entrance-nozzles in suchmanner that all the nozzles which hapfpen to be' working are working ata maximum efiiciency, and thus the efficiency of-the wheel is almostuniform under varying loads and does not diminish'successively atreduced loads, as is the case of other formsas, for instance, where thesteam is throttled or.

wire-drawn at less than full load.

Another object of my invention is to provide special governing mechanismdepending generally, but not necessarily, "directly upon the speed ofthe shaft of theturbine, this governor being completely astatic.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby a machine oflarge capacity maybe built up from several of smaller capacity mountedon the same shaft. means embody the operation of every, se a-. ratewheel except one, either at. full loa or completely shut ofi, so thatthis manner 'nvention relatesto the construction of Such Patented Feb.6,1906.

that part of the total which is operating is i doing so sit maximumefficiency, whereas those'wheels which are shut olfadd. ractically'nothing to the friction of the who e, and that Wheel which is beingoperated-at part load is used to regu'latejthe s eed in accordance withvariations of the oadi'. -My improved regulating mechanism is such thata ity bullt up fromsmaller wheels will operate with the same efliciencyas or greater than a p single wheel of large dimensions would have,

so that only twoaor three standard designs,

including sets of drawings, patterns, parts, 850., may be kept in stockforalLsizes of ap- .paratus that may be needed.

. A further object of my invention is to pro- 7' vide a.turbineabsolutely without end thrust upon the shaft or parts and whichleaves room for the minimum of leakage. I provide special ,forms ofpacked joints adapted to,

high velocities and which form a part of my invention, as hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

erated by steam as a motive-fluid, and this fluid will be used in thefollowing description that the wheel is adaptable to any other form 4 Myturbine is specially designed to be op- -of the apparatus ;-'but it isto'be understood of elastic or expansive fluid, such as comepressed'airor burnin as. v v

My improved whee is of the impulse type and of that kind knownas themultiple-cicpansion or multi le-stage turbine, the steam or other fluideing causedto undergo its expansion inseveral;separate-stages until itarrives finally -at exhaust-pressure-that is to say, the firststage-mayembody an expansion from the admission-pressure to a certainlower pressure and the steam is ejected through an expansion-nozzle atits full velocity, duetoexpan sion to the said lower or in- 'term'ediatepressure, after which expansion it acts one or more times successivelyupon the wheel and then passes into'areeeiver in the same manner assteamfrom the high-pressure cylinder, of a compound reciprocating.

engine, after which the steam leavesithere ceiverthrough a secondexpansion-nozzle or series" of expansion-nozzles, being ,".Eiaillyl-:-ex-

'panded in these noazles to the pressureati the until theexhaust-chamber. is reached. Fursecond stage of the ex ansion or that inthe second receiver, and t ereupon is causedto act one or more timesupon buckets in the wheel and is then received into said secondreceiver, andthis operation may be repeated as many times as founddesirable, according .to the size and style'ofthe wheel'-that is to say,the expansion may be divided into as many stages as desirable, eachstage being provided with its own set of nozzles and buckets upon thesurface of the same wheel thermore, the first or high-pressure series ofnozzles is closest to the axis of the wheel, whereby the steamas itexpands has agreater and greater area to accommodate it according to theincreasing circumference as it passes radially outward. My inventionfurthermore consists of the constructions and. combinations hereinaftermore particularly described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be readily understood, I have hereinbelowdescribed one embodiment and several modifications thereof, whi'ch willsuflice to illustrate the Fig. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of asegment of a turbine-wheel to show the successive steps of constructingthe buckets. Fig.6 is a developed circumferential section on the line 6of Fig. 5, showing the same series of steps and the tools employed toform the buckets. Fig. 7 is a radial section taken on the line 7 of Fig.5. Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a side and. plan view of one of theblocks used in connection with the buckets shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig.10 is a perspective view of one of the plates used in the sameconstruction. Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are respectively a face view, adeveloped circumferential section on the line 12, and a transverse orradial section on the line 13 of a 15 of another modified constructionof the buckets. Figs. 16 and 17 are respectively a jsideand plan view ofone of the blocks used in this construction. Figs. 18 and 19 are-revspectively a face view and adeveloped cir- ,cumferential section showinga variation of this construction. Figs. 20 and 21 are respectively anupper and under face view of I circumferential section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view' one of the strips used in theconstruction of Figs. 18 and 19 to take the place of the blocks of Figs.14 and 15. Figs. 22, 23, and 24 are respectively a face view, developedcircumferential section on the line 23, and a trans-' verse or radialsection on theline 24, showing another modified construction of thebuckets.. Figs. 25 and 26 are respectively a side I and plan view. ofone of the blocks used in the last-mentioned construction. Figs. 27, 28,and 29 are respectively a face view, a developed circumferential sectionon the line 28,

and a transverse section on the line 29, showview or one looking in thedirection of the arrow 32, Fig. 30, of the same construction, the

latter figure showing a part of the casing in Fig. 33 is a transverse orradial section through the same construction and through the casing,taken on the line 33'. Fig. 34 is a section transverse to the axis,taken through my improved fourway governor-valve to sh ow the internalconstruction and operation thereof. Fig. 35 is a diametrical section onthe line 35 of Fig. 36 of the regulating-ring for the admission-valvesand of its operating mechanism. Fig. 36 is a section of the sameconstruction perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 35 and on the line 36thereof. Fig. 37 is a developed circumferential section on the line 37of Fig. 36 to show the mode of operation of the valves by theregulating-ring.

Fig. 38 is a diagrammatic view showing my arrangement of the governingmechanism for a compound turbine comprising a plurality of wheels on oneshaft. Fig. 39 is a modified construction of the regu lating-ring forthe admission-valves wherein steam is admitted simultaneously on-theopposite sides of the diameter of the wheels,

whereby a side pressure upon the bearings is prevented.

Fig. 40 is .a plan view'of a POI.- tion of' a turbine, showing amodified construction of the regulating mechanism whereby theadmission-valves on both sides of the wheel are operated simultaneously;Fig. 41

is a partly-diagrammatic view of the form assumed by the mechanism ofFig. 38 in this in? stance. p i

In the drawings and the followin description the same referencecharacter a ways refers to the same part.

Referring first to Figs,- 1, '2, 3, and 4, 42 is a heavybase plate whichmay be mounted on Iafoundation 43, provided with an opening 44, intowhich the casing'o'f the turbine depends. On this base plate 42 ismounted the wheel-casing 45, which is made in four semicircular.)ortions 46 and 47, being divided centrally transverse to the axis andin the horizontalaxial plane. The sections 47 are provided, as shown,with a set of flanges 48 'which rest upon the base-plate 42 and arebolted thereto by holdingdown bolts 49. The upper sections 46 of thecasings are likewise provided with flanges 50, which are bolted to theflanges 48 by bolts 51, and each pair of sections 46 and 47 are boltedtogether by the marginal flanges 52 and'bolts 53. The shaftof theturbine is shown at 54 mounted axially within the casing 45 andsupported in pil this shaft at the right of Fig. 1 that is to say, theend distant from that at which the driven machine is applied or fromwhich power is "taken-is provided with a small.

Worm 56, which drives a wormswheel 57,

mounted on the governor-shaft 58, which may turn upon the usual spindleor otherwise, supported'by thepost 59, which is bolted to the base 42.At the upper end of this has a grooved rin 61 inclosing a non rotatingcollar 62, to

, which is connected a link 63,. which is icon nected ,tothe end of thevalve-lever 64 los longin t'o the governor-valve 65, which is part. 0 mimproved construction hereinaf ter descri. ed; The valve has pipeconnections 66. and 67, leading to a'source of fluidpressure andto adesirable outlet, respectivel and pipe connections 68, (only one of whicis shown in Fig.'1,)' which lead to the actuating-cylinder inthere'gulating- 69, which governs the opening and closin o' theadmission-nozzles for the steam to t e tuxf bines. It will be seen fromFi 3 that the r 'casin of the wheel isarra the 's' aft 54 closelywithout eing in actual e to surround contact therewith, Hence thispoint'of junction contains no packin' The wheel and casing are otherwiseac ed toprevent the escape of steam, as wi 1 be described'later on.

.5 The wheel (shown in section at 69, Fig.v 3, and in elevation on theright of Fig. 4) is mounted on. the shaft 54 and keyed thereto by keys70 and is rovided 'on both faces thereof with .a'plura fity of circularseries of buckets, (numbered 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, and 76.) The inner faceof the casing 45, on the other hand, is likewise provided withanopposing series of stationary guide-buckets 77, 78, and 79, these beinglocated, respectively, between the series 71 and 7 2 and 73 and 74 and 7Sand 76 of the wheel. Within the se: ries '77 and 78 the casing has oneach interior side a circular series of expansion-nozzles'80, which areformed in rings of hard or other-. wise suitable metal 81, set in properooves in a fac of the casing, so as to be flus therewith, i beingunderstood that these nozzles w-blocks 55. As shown, the end of areobliquely directed in a circumferential direction, so as to causethesteam to issue against the inner sideof the buckets 71 of the wheel.With these expansion-nozzles 80 communicate the tubular passage-ways 82,formed in the casing and communicating with the annular steam-chest 83in the outer side of the casin each steam-chest being closed by an annuar plate 84, secured thereto by bolts 85. Through the plates 85 areformed passage-ways for valvc-stems 86, each packed by a gland-87,carrying on its inner end a valve 88, ada ted to fit the seat 89, formedon the end 0 the passage-Way, 82, so as to close said passage-way whenthe stem 86 is pushed in. i There is also formed inthe outerside of thecasing and on each side thereof at one point therein-(shown as theuppermost point of the valve-chest) 'an expansion or vestibule 90for-the steam-pipe 91, which enters the sameand communicates steam tothe steam-chest 83. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) Of course several of suchentrances for steam may be provided around the'steam-chest, ifnecessary. Intermediate between the second and third series 72 and 73 ofwheel-buckets there is arranged ineach face of the wheelcasin opposedthereto a ring of receivingcham ore 92, which is, separated from theface of'the casmg by the annular piece 93,

entrance passage-ways 94 on the lower side, and expansion-nozzles 95on-the upper side,

as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, said passage-ways and nozzles being formed bya series of obliquely-set plates or partitions 96, to be described lateron more particularly. The passagesways 94, which are of uniform'section,are opposite the upper or exhaust ends of the buckets 72, while theexpansion-nozzles 95 on the other side of .the ring 93 are opposite theentrance end of the bucket 73, into which they discharge. The partitions96 are so disposed that the passage-ways 94 receive the steam in abackward oblique direction from the bucket 72, and the nozzles 95discharge it in a forward obli ue direction, In a similar manner betweent e'fourth and fifth series 74 and 75 of wheel-buckets is arranged thereceiving chamber 97, separated from the face of the Wheel by theannular member 98 and provided with passage-ways 99, expansiomnozzles100, and ob ique partitionplates 101, whereby the same cycle of eventstakes'place in the next lower stage 0f-expansion as in the case of thereceivingchamber 92. It will be understood that the construction of thetwo sidesof the wheel and casing are identical, as shown.

The cycle of o erations of the motive fluid. will now be un erstood. Thesteam enters the oblique expansion-nozzles 80 through the passage-ways82 when the valves ,88 are opened, reaches its full velocity due to thereduction in pressure-between the nozzle 80 and the chamber 92 in saidnozzles, and im receiver 92 to that in the receiver approximately fourtimes that of the pinges at this velocity uponthe first series ofbuckets 71, being. reversed in direction and thereby communicatingmotion to the wheel. As the buckets 71 move with a linear velocity onlyone-fourth that of the steam instead of on e-half, as in a wheel havingonly one row of buckets, the steam leaving the buckets 71 is thrown backinto the stationary guidebuckets '77 with a velocity one-half of itsoriginal velocity, and is thence projected forward again through theouter or exhaust ends of the guide-buckets 77 into the wheel-buckets 72,thus giving a further impulse to the wheel, and being reflected at zeroor a slightly backward .velocity into the passage-ways 94, through whichit passes into the first receiver 92, thus completing the first stage ofthe expansion. The steam passes from the chamber 92 through the obliqueexpansion-noz zles 95 and again reaches a velocity equal to buckets 73,into which it is thrown, said velocity being due to its, expansion fromthe pressure in the 97, the parts being so designed that such last-namedvelocity is greater than the velocity of projection in the nozzles inproportion to the radial distance of the respective nozzles from theaxis of revolution of the wheel. From the nozzles the steam successivelypasses into the buckets 73, is reflected into the guide: buckets 78,thence reflected into the buckets 74, and againreflected withapproximately zero velocity into the passage-ways 99, whence it arrivesin the second receiver 97. From this receiver the same cycle of eventsagain follows, the steam being projected through the oblique nozzles ata velocity proportionally greater than that from the nozzles 80 and 95in the. ratio of their radial distance from the axis and due to itsexpansion from the pressure of the receiver 97 to exhaustpressure, andstriking the buckets 75 is reflected into the buckets 79 and thence into;the buckets 76, the outer ends of which it leaves at zero velocity,escaping into the annular exhaust-chamber 102, which is inclosed by theouter margin of the casing. The exhaust-chamber 102 has a flanged outlet103 at the lowest point thereof, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) to which may beconnected suitable pipes to the atmosphere or a condenser, as desired.

It will thus be seen that the expansion of the steam in the wheel shownin Figs. 1 to 4 takes place in three stages, separated from each otherby the two receivers 92 and 97. The steam undergoing each of the stagesof expansion is separated from the other stages and from the atmosphereby means of packing-rings 104,- 105, and 106, set in recesses in thewheel-casing within the row of nozzles 80 and in the annular members 93and 98 respectively, and either caused to press lightly against thewheel oriixed in very close juxtaposition thereto, the approvedconstrucstood, of course, that in the 1 expansion of the steam maybedivided into any desirable number of stages and in each stage may becaused to act upon the wheel any desirable number of times, thusreducing the resulting velocity of the wheel to any required extent. Forexample, the velocity of the wheel just described would be but onesixthof that of an ordinary wheel, in which the whole expansion of the steamis taken up by a single series of buckets.

My improved turbine is susceptible ofvarious mechanical constructions,and it is one of the objects of the present invention to form thebuckets of the wheel and easing with the least amount of mechanicallabor and greatest rigidity, combined with the fewest number of separateparts. To this end I have shown a simple manner of constructing thewheel in Figs. 5 to 10, inclusive, Sheets 5 and 6. Fig. 5 shows in faceview and Fig. 6 in developed circumferential section the successiveoperations to which the wheel-blank is subjected to form the finishedbucket. Starting on the right, at A is shown a portion of the uncutblank, in which are first cuta se- B, in any suitable manneras, forinstance, on a milling-machine or lathe. These groove have a de thproportionate to the size and depth of tlie finished bucket and are cutall the way around the wheel before the next 0 eration. The secondoperation consists 1n applying a face drill or cutter 111 obliquely tothe bottom of the groove 110 and similar tools of smaller sizes to the108, and 109, the diameter of this tool being suchas to give asemicircular form to the outer portion of the bucket and approximatelyequal to the width of g the groove in which it works. This tool 111,having hollowed out an oblique semicircular in the position shown inFig. 6 and by. the dotted circle 111 ,'Fig. 5, is moved in an ob liquedirection parallel'to the plane of the bottom of the bucket-that is tosay, in the direction shown by the line 112, Fig. 5, so as to form theinner or entering end of each bucket tangential. This form of bucketforms an important feature of my invention, as does also the mode Thisoperation with the tool 1;1 I. is continued with each of the grooves allthe way around the wheel, forming the bottoms of the buckets in a seriesof steps 113, 114, 115, and 116. The third operation consists of .aplying a thin circular saw-blade 117 obliquel y in the manner andposition shown in Fig. 6, so as to cut deep slots or recesses on theupper sides of each of the steps, and the saw is caused to bottom of thebuckets and is then moved raor crescent-shaped recess for the bucketwhen of producing-the same;

cut deep enough to carry the slots below the ries of grooves 107 108 109110, as-shown at other grooves 107,

the bottom of dially and at a depth roportional to its dis tance fromthe axis 0 the wheel toward the perspective in Fig. 10, and it will beunderstood that each plate traverses all of the several series ofbuckets and is cut off obliquel on its upper edge 120, so as to lieflush wit the surface of the wheel and to cut the steam sharpl as itenters the bucket. These plates are he (1 firmly in place by slightlyupsetting or calking the edge of the metal of the disk at the ends ofthe plate and at oints intermediate between the rows of hue ets. Thewheel may, if desired, be regarded as complete when thus formed; but itis generally thought proper to subject it to a fifth operation,comprising the placing near the center ofv each bucket of a small metalblock 121. (Shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9.) These blocks haveparallel faces 122 and 123, fitting between the successive plates 119,and oblique faces 124, adapted to lie flush with the surface of thewheel-disk, and their rear or inner ends are rounded semicircularly, asshown at 125, being in a-general way concentric with the circumferentialoutline of the buckets; but theyare preferably set slightl eccentrictoward the inner or entrance si e of the buck ets, so as to give thesteam a slight ex ansion in passing through the bpckets, this sing amatter of customary practice and forming no part of my'invention. Eachblock 121 is pro-. vided with four countersunk rivet-holes 126, throughwhich and similar holes in the plates 1 19 ass rivets 127. These servenot only to 1101 the blocks 121 in place, but also to make a rigid wholeof the series of buckets. It will be seen that the buckets so formedhave a slightly enlarged or-flaring inner or entrance end and preferablyaslightlydncreasing section from this end to the-exhaust end.

In Figs. 11, 12, and 13 I have shownanother way of forming the buckets,this way involving very little machine-work, and therefore being lesscostly than the receding. 69 here represents the wheel-disk or body ofthe wheel, formed ordinarily of cast steel oriron 1 and having machinedat various points on its face concentric grooves of'rectan 'ularshouldered outline, as shown at 128, Fig. 13. In these grooves arefitted rings or segments of at intervals along their periphery, screwedinto the wheel-body 69 In Figs. 14 and 15 is shown still another rings129,,of cast metal, which have, as shown mode of formin the buckets,which in some respects is sinip er than either of the reced-I ing, thebuckets being here machine out of the wheel-body 69, as by amilling-cutter or like revolvin tool, set in a plane oblique to thewheel and cutting recesses 133 for the buckets directly, the artitionsbetween the buckets being formed y the transverse webs 134, of metal,left between the successive cuts. It will be seen from Fig. 14 that theinner or entrance end of each bucket is provided with a tangentialportion 135 in the same manner as already described for the buckets inNear the center of each bucket is set a b 136, having a semicircularrear edge 137 and an oblique face 138 flush with the surface of thewheel, each block being provided with a screw-hole 139 recessed toreceive the head of a screw 140, which passes through said hole and issecured in the body 69 of the wheel,

thus holding the blocks136, as well as the webs 134, ri 'dly in place.-A variation of this mode 0 forming the buckets is shown in Figs. 18 and"19, the wheel-bedy being shown at 69 and having formed in it recesses133 as above leaving webs 134. 1 These latter ave cen-' tralsemicircular gouges 143 out out to re.-

ether. In this case it is only necessary tov ave one screw 140 toeverythree or four;

buckets. i

In some casesit will be desirable for the sake of sim licity to omit thesegments 142,

ceive the shoulders 141 of a series of ringsj 0111 e the place 0 theblocks 136 and are, in fact,

completely eaving open buckets with semicircular gouges, as in thecase'of the buckets of the wheel shown in Figs. 3 and 4. p Still anothermethod of forming the buckv I1.5 ets is shown in Figs. 22, 23, and 24,which is similar in some respects to that of 11 in having the plates 144made of separate pieces of sheet metal cast into a ring or annular seg-"no groove 128 in the wheel-body 69 and held 1n lace b screws 132 atintervals on thepe ment 129, which is secured in the shouldered rip ery,t 's mode however, being similar to that of Fi s. 14 and 18 in havingthe rear walls of the bus ets c lindrical and at right an Ice to theplane 0 the. plates 144 instea of obli us, as in Fig. 12, and also inhaving bloc s 136 secured in place by screws 140"; but in this instancethe screws 140" "nter the segments 129 from the back, so that their"heads are hidden and cannot become rusty or stopped up 'with dirt norcan the screws become loose or come out, as they rest agalnst:

the back of the groove 128.

Figs. 27, 28, and 29 show a modification of the last form, embodying inplace of the 136, continuous strips 142' similar to the blocks 136,which are similar to the blocks strips 142, the plates 144 havingsemicircular gouges to receive the shoulders of the strips. In otherrespects the form of buckets shown in Figs. 27 to 29 is the same as inFigs. 22 to 24. p

In Figs. 30 to 33, Sheet 8, are shown the details of the annularreceiving-chambers 92 and the parts connected therewith. At in eachfigure is shown a portion of the easing, which has'at this point 'asemicircular recess, as shown. In the center of the open end of therecess is arranged the ring member 93 of rectangular section, this ringmember having cast into it a series of plates 96,

' which plates are on the side adjacent to the casing set in axialplanes and of semicircular outline to fit the inner wall of the chamber92; but on the lateral sides of the ring member 93 they are obliquelyand forwardly di- These rings 93, with the plates, are securedas a wholeby means of cap-screws 146,-projectin through the casing from theoutside,

where y the whole may be drawn tightly into place. In addition .thereare formed in the outer-face of the block 93 adjacent to the, wheelconcentric annular grooves 147, in

which are seated the packing-strips 105, which may be of any preferablematerial, such as copper, Babbitt metal, composition, carbon", or thelike. These strips ordinarily are not pressed resiliently agamst thewheel, al-

though they may be, if found desirable; but

. they are held in close juxtaposition thereto in the following manner.At intervals along each strip are formed two screw-holes close together,in which are'set a headless screw 149, which is engaged with a thread inthe hole, and a headed screw 150, which turnsfreely in its hole, butengages the thread of the recess 151, formed in the packing-strip. By

-' means of the screw 149 the strip may be pressed toward the wheel,while by means of the screw 150 the strip is drawn away from.

the wheel, the two screws thus acting in opposition, Whereby the stripis locked in any desirable position. By means of the screwplug 152,threaded into a hole in the back of the chamber 92, a screw-driver maybe inserted from outside the casingto adjust the screws 149 and 150, andthe packin -strips thus set so as to touch the wheel ightly.

When the wheel is set in operation, in a short time these strips becomeworn down, so that they are just out of contact with the wheel,

whereby they produce no unnecessary friction, while at the same timethey are sufficiently close to the wheel to preventmaterial leakage ofsteam. As a further prevention against leakage the wheel-body 69 may bethe groove ends at this point.

provided with concentric grooves 153, which receive the ends ofthepacking-strips 105. 1

I will now describe the means of regulating the flow of steam to thewheel, or, in other a cylindrical or circular seat 156, on whichisfitted an annular or wheel-shaped member 157 ,which is keyed theretoby a dowel 158. This member is shown more fully in Figs, 35 and 36. Inthe ring portion thereof is formed an annular fluid-pressure cylinder159, which communicates with the cylindrical outer margin 160 by anencircling groove 161. On

the said cylindrical margin 160 is rotatably mounted the regulating-ring69, which has an inwardly-projecting circular flange or rib 163, fittingand sliding in the groove 161. The joint between the member157 and thering 160 is packed by rings ofpacking material 162, let into grooves inthe abutting surfaces. The ring 160 carries at one point thereof.projecting inwardly fromthe rib 163 and filling the chamber of thecylinder 159, radial piston 164, which may be provided withpacking-rings 164 and is adapted to move in either direction around saidannular cylinder, the cylinder itself having at its lowermost or anyother suitable point a partition'165 across it, and on either side ofthe partition 165 are a pair of orifices 166 and a second pair 167. setat a distance from the partition 165 equal to the width of the piston164, so that when the piston 164 is close against the partition 165there-is a communication between the two apertures 167 around thecylinder, where as when the piston 164 occupies any intermediateposition there is no communication between the two'ends of the cylinder.The mode of operation of this apparatus will be described presently. Theregulating ring 162 has provided in it, as shown, a T-shaped annularrecess 168, which opens on the face, adjacent to the valve-chest. ThisT-shaped groove may extend all around the ring except at one Ipointthereof, (shown at the uppermost side 0 developed circumferentialsection in Fig. 37,) which is the entering-point for the rollers 155,mounted on the valve-stems. At this point the ring may be provided withtongueshaped guides 169, in. which the T -shaped groove endsobliquely,communicating with the outside of the ring, while the other end of Itwill be evi dent from its construction that'when the ring is moved. inthe direction of the arrow 17 0,

Fig. 37, the valves will be drawn back so as to admit steam to thenozzles while when the ring in Figs. 35 and 36' and in.

- stances may require.

the ring is turned in the opposite direction they will be pushed forwardso as to close the, ports 82 and shut off steam successively from thenozzles. is at no time any throttling or wire-drawing oi" the steam, andeach nozzle works independently and at its fullest efliciency under allcircumstances. The radial-piston 164 is operated by the agency of thegovernor 60, already described, through the medium of the fourway valve65, which is shown in section, Fig. 34', this valve serving to admitalternately at opposite ends of the annular cylinder 159 a :lluid underpressure and simultaneously to exhaust it from the other end,thus-driving the piston 164 .in either direction as circum- Suchpressure fluid may be either steam, compressed air, water, oil, or anyother medium, as may be most convenient, and it is admitted to the valvethrough the pipe 66, as already described. The valve 61 is, as shown,composed of two concentric cylindrical walls 171 172, closed by a headat each end, and the space between the walls is divided by radialpartitions 173 into four equal segmental chambers 174 175 176 177, thefirst two of which communicate, respectively, with the pressure-pipe 66and the exhaust-pipe 67 and the others with the pipes 68, which areconnected (in case of only one wheel being used) to the apertures 166,adjacent to the partition 165 in the annular cylinder 159, the other twoapertures 167 be-I ing plugged in this instance. Each of the chambers171 175 176 177 has two ports 178, extendil'ig through the inner wall172 at opposite ends of such chamber and communicating with the innercylindrical chamber of the val co, in which oscillates the valve-plug 179, which is of such form as to extend over and close two pairs ofopposite orifices 178, while the other two pairs of orifices 178 areleft in communication with each other. This valve-plug 179 is operatedby the lever 64,

' and it w'illbe seen that in the position shown,

which is the normal'operating position at full speed, aillf our of thepassage-ways of the valve are closed completely. Suppose, however, theload to diminish, causing a slight increase in the speed and so causingthe collar 62 of the governor to rise. The lever 64 will be raised andthe pressure-chamber 174 placed in com- :n'nmication with the chamber176, this in turn admitting the pressure at one end of the cylinders 159and exhausting it from the other, whereby the piston 164 is caused tomove around the cylinder in such direction as to close one or more ofthe ports 82 by )ushing in the valve-stems 86. Should the load increase,on the other hand, the speed will diminish, the governor drop, and theplug of the four-way valve 65 turn in the opposite directionor into theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 34, thus admitting ressurc intothe right-hand pipe 68 and ex iausting the Thus it will be seen thatthere.

ring an left-hand pi. e 68 and causing the piston164 to move in theopposite direction and to open one or more of the valves 88. It will beseen, therefore, that this governor is completely astatic because theregulating-ring 162 is moved to open and close the'valves-at all timesexcept when the governor is exactly at the right speed and the valve'occupies a position in which both the pressure-pipe66 and theexhaust-pipe 67 are shut off from the pi es 68.

In I ig. 39 I have shown a modi ed and generally preferable form of theregulating PISlIOIl of Figs. 35 and 36. For the sake of simplicity Ihave originally described the ring 69 as having but one T-groove 168continuous all the Way round, except at one point. In this case it isobvious that inor der to reverse the position ofall the valves 88 thering 69 must make a complete revolution. In practice the T-groove 168 mabe divided into two, three, four, or more istinct portions, eachprovided with an oblique portion and tongue 169, as shown in Fig. 37,these being at equal distances around the ring, whereby two or more ofthe valves 88 are opened and closed simultaneously at symmetrical pointsaround the wheel, thus avoiding any unbalancing of pressure. Fig. 39shows this modification adapted to the simultaneous operation ofthe twovalves 88, at opposite ends of a diameter, the ring 69 being accordinglyprovided with two of-the oblique tongues 169. (This ring is partlybroken away in the figure.) The ring mem-. her 157, containing theannular cylinder 159*,

becomes here modified so that the partition 165 of Fig. 36 becomes asolid filling 165' of nearly one hundred and eighty degrees, and theapertures 166' 167 are correspondin ly placed with respect to the endsof this so id portion. The remaining parts are identical with theapparatus already described, and it will be seen that the piston 164requires to make only one-half a revolution in order to completely openor close all the valves.

I will now. describe the governing devices whereby several wheels on thesame shaft are operated in interconnection with each other by the samegovernor. This constitutes a very important element of my invention, asit enables such a series of wheels to be operated at full load at equalefficiency to and at less than full load at much greater efficiency thana single large wheel of the same total capacity, besides greatlysimplifying the construction of the different sizes required for varioususes. trated diagrammatically in Fig. 38, in which 1571, 1572, 1573, and1574 represent respective regulating-cylinders 157 of each of the seriesof such wheels mounted on a single shaft, while the valve 65, with itspipes 66, 67, and 68, are also shown, the latter pipes being connectedup, respectively, to one side of the regulating-cylinders 1571 at oneend and to This arrangement is illus 181, and the piston of the theopposite side of 166. The several regulating-cylinders areinterconnected by pipes 180 181 in the following manner, to wit: eachpipe 180 is connected to the right ha-nd aperture 166 of one ring and tothe left-hand aperture 167 of the next adjacent ring, and, conversely,the pipes 181 are each connected to the lefthand aperture 166 of onering and the right-hand aperture 167 of the next adjacent ring. The endapertures 167 on the sides to which the pipes 68 are connected areplugged. With this series of connections the operation will be seen tobe as follows: Supposing the load to increase, the valve-lever 64 willbe depressed and, as already explained, steam will be admitted. to theright-hand pipe 68, passing to the lefthand endregulating-ring 1571 andthe pressure entering the same behind the piston 164,

which may at this time be supposed to be on' the left-hand side of thepartition 165. At the same time the left-hand pipe 68 will be opened tothe exhaust, which communicates the lower pressure to the right-handside of the partition 165 in the right-hand end cylinder 1574. Thepiston 164 of this cylinder will likewise be found on the left-hand sideof the partition 165, as will all the other pistons, if the steam is atfirst completely shut off from the turbine, and hence the low pressureis communicated through the successive pipes 180 to the right-hand endof the cylinder 1571, so that the piston 164 of this cylinder will bedriven around to the right, and this will con' tinue until the piston 161- has reached its eX- tremeposition on the right, as shown in thefigure, whereupon the right-hand aperture 167 of this cylinder will beuncovered, and (supposing the speed to be still below normal,) the highpressure will therefore pass through the pipe 181 into theregulatingcylinder 1572 of the next wheel, thus driving the piston ofthis cylinderlikewise around to the right until it rests at extremeright-hand position, when the high pressure will be admitted in likemanner through the next pipe third cylinder 1573 will be likewiseactuated, and We will suppose that at a certain intermediate position ofthe piston in this 0 linder the load becomes unbalanced and tlie speednormal, whereupon the piston of the cylinder 1573 will be driven in onedirection or the other again, according to whether the lever 64 of thevalve is raised or lowered. It will be observed that as the loadincreases the wheels come successively into action, each wheel beingcompletely turned on before the next wheel begins to be turned on. Inthis manner',.how-

'ever, many wheels may be mounted on the same axis only one is run atpart load, and this one serves to adjust the variation in the totalload, and all the wheels on one side of this one are running at fullload, and all those the" regulating-cylinder on the other" 1574 at theother end through the apertures full vacuum a 190 at the-other end ofthe series.

sums

side are running empty and in of the condenser.

In Fig. 1 the two rings 69 on opposite sides of the wheel are shown asacting independently of each other, the serings, or, rather, thecylinder operating them, being connected up in parallel to the pipe 68.In practice'I preer, however, to provide means for causing the two ringsto move absolutely simultaneously, so that no end thrust is caused bymore valves being opened on one side of the wheel than on the other.Such means are shown in Fig. 46, comprising gearing joining the tworings -together around the wheel-casing. The regulating-rings 69 areshown as having gear-teeth 181, formed around their peripheries, thesegear-teeth meshing with a pair of gearwheels 182, mounted on shafts 183,

turning in bearings 184 and 185, secured to the wheel-casing. Theseshafts have at their opposite ends gear-wheels 186, which mesh togetheron'opposite sides of the double rack 187, thus mechanically connectingthe rings 69". The annular cylinders 159 may be in this case replaced bymechanism acting directly on the rack 187 to raise and lower it,

and I have shown the form which such modified mechanism assumes whenseveral wheels are connected in series, as already-describeddiagrammatically in Fig. 41. As shown, the

racks 187 are mounted on the ends of the piston-rods 188, which areactuated by pistons 189, reciprocating in cylinders 190, the two pipes68 bein in this case connected, respectively, to the lower end of thecylinder 190 at one end'and the upper end of the cylinder Theintermediate cylinders are connected to each other and to the endcylinders by ipes 191 and 192, the former connecting t e upper end ofone cylinder to a point near the lower end of the next and distant fromsaid lower end by a space equal to the thickness of the piston 189therein, and the pipe 192 connects the lower end of said last-named clinder with a point near the upper end of t 1e first and distanttherefrom likewise by a space equal to the thickness of the piston 189therein. It will be readily seen on examination that this arrangementworks substantially in the same manner as that already described andshown in Fig. 38, the difference being merely the pistons are set in astraight instead of an annular cylinder. I do not herein specificallyclaim this connection of my regulating apparatus, this being merely oneform or embodiment of the general principle thereof which I do claim.

It may be observed that with any individual Wheel which is workin withonly a part of the steam-port's open tliere will be a certain fanningout or spreading of the steam at the end bucketsthat is to say, thebuckets inradial line with the end nozzles of the row which are turnedon. This will cause a slight with only four forming the regulation atany one time/the loss in efficiency; but as this will be the case ucketson the one wheel perlossof efliciency thus caused 'wil'libe very slight.With all the other nozzles from which steam issues the path of the steamis substantially radial from the nozzles 80 to the exhaust-chamber 102.

- While I have described above several embodiments and forms of myinvention, I do not wish to limit myself to these specific forms, as itwill be readily understood that they are merely illustrations of thegeneral principles involved, which are covered by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. An elasticruid turbine comprising a rotating disk and fixedenvelophaving reentrant inclosed guiding-passages so constructed on eachthat the coordination of the fixed and moving inclosed guiding-passages,present a free, direct and unobstructed passage for the fluid to exhaustin a continuous and radial sinusoidal movement.

2. An elastic-fluid turbine comprising a ro-' tating disk, havingconcentric rows ofra-- dially-pos'itioned inclosed rentrantguidingpassages on one side thereof adapted toreceive anelastic motivefluid atoneend and reflect it in a backward direction at the other endas regards each of said passages ;.said 7 ends being parallel with eachother and located along the same radial line.

3. An elastic-fluid turbine-comprising a rotating disk and fixed envelophaving rentrant inclosed guiding-passages successively longer andlonger. from the admission-passages, and so constructed in each that thecoordination of the fixed and moving guidmgpassages present an open,continuous, and

unobstructed passage, of continuously-in-' creasing cross-section fromthe entrance of the passa e to the exhaust.

4. An e astic-fiuid turbine comprising a rotating disk having concentricrows of reentrant inclosed guiding passage-ways on one side thereof,means for continuouslyv delivering to said passage-ways at their endsnearest to the axis an elastic motive fluid of a pre determined anduniform density whereby they are caused to exhaust said fluid intangential directions with respect to the direction of rotation of thedisk at their ends farthest from the axis, the two ends of eachpassage-way being disposed onthe same radialv to and into the nozzles ofthe second series.

- 7. An elastic-fluid turbine comprising a rotating disk havingconcentric rows of reentrant inclosed guiding-passages on one .sidethereof, whose openings are radially disposed and adapted to receive anelastic motive fluid and reflect it in a backward direction, in

combination with one or more expansion nozzles ada ted to project astream of elastic motive uid into said passages in a partly orwhollytangential direction.

8. An elastic-fluid turbine comprisin a discoid rotating member and anenve op therefor, each having-renitrant inclosed guiding-passages soconstructed that the coordination of these guiding passages shallpresent an open and continuous passage of gradually and continuouslyincreasing section and length from the entering end to the exhaust end.

9. Anelastic-fiuid turbine comprising a rotatin member, a stationarfymember uxtapose thereto, a plurality o circular series of rentrantinclosed guiding-passa es on the adjacent sides of said two mem ers,each adapted to receive the motive fluid from the other and reflect itback, and means for directing one or more streams of such fluid into theinnermost series of rotating passa ,es whereby said fluid is caused tofpass radia ly outward, acting a succession'o times upon said rotatingmember to impel the same,

each rotating rentrant guidin -passage.con

sisting of arecess in the face 0 said rotating member with plane sidesand a curved-bottom and to a V '10. An e astic-fluid turbine comprisinga rotating member having circular series of guiding-surfaces upon oneface thereof adapted to .receive and reflect a current of elastic motivefluid, a stationary member juxtaposed to said rotating member and havinga,

receivin -chamber formedtherein opposite etween' two of said circularseries, said chamber havin passage-ways arranged to receive the fluidfrom one series and project it against the next, and means for proectinga current of said fluid against the first series. L I i 11.. Anelastic-fluid turbine comprismg a rotating member having circular seriesof.

guiding-surfaces upon one face thereof adapted to receive and reflect acurrentof elastic motive fluid, a stationary member' juxtaposed to saidrotating member andhaving'a receiving-chamber formed therein opposite toand between two of said circular series,

said chamber havin passage-ways arranged to receive thefluid fromoneseries and pro ject it against the next,-'means for separating said twoseries from each other to prevent the fluid from passing from oneto theother except through said receiving chamber thus causing differentpressuresto prevail in therespective series and enabling the expansionto take place by successive steps or stages.

12. A multiple stage expansion turbine comprising a discoid rotatingmember hav- .ing circular series of guiding-surfaces upon one facethereof adapted to receive and reflect a current of elastic motivefluid, one or more expansion-nozzles arranged to direct a current ofsaid ,flllld against the first of said series, a -recelving-chamberopposite and between two of said series, passage-ways adapted to receivesaid fluid from one of said series and conduct it into said chamber, oneor more expansion-nozzles leading from'said v chamber and directing saidfluid a ainst the other series, and packing means isolating the steamleaving the firstnozzle orn'ozzlesfrom the others, whereby theexpansio'n takes place in successive stages.

13. An elastic-fliu'd impulse-turbine comprising za rotatihg discoidmember having a --ii1g-surfaces.ada ted to receive the niotlveluralityof sets of circularly-arranged guidfluid'ina partiay-tan'gential directiona'nd reflect 'the same, absorbing a portion ofits kinetic energy,'stationary members juxtaposed to the respectivesides and each having guiding-surfaces opposite to. and between those onthe rotating member and adapted to receive the steam from one set anddeliver 4 it'to another set of said surfaces, one or morereceivingechambers opposite to and between another pair or pairs 'ofsaid rotating sets of' gu1desurfaces, passage-ways adapted to re-- ceivesaid fluid from one set and 'deliver it to said receiving-chamber andexpansion-nozzles adapted to project the steam from saidreceiving-chamber against the next setof said rotating guide-surfaces,expansion-nozzles adapted todeliver the fluid at initial v pressureagainst the first set of said rotating uide surfaces, and means forconfining the fluid undergoing each stage of expansion. I

14., An elastic-fluid turbine comprising a discoid rotating memberhaving a plurality of circular series of crescent-shaped inclosedexpanding passage-ways on one side thereof,

each arranged to receive the motive fluid in a vpartiall -tangentialdirection at the inner end an reflect it in a partially tangentialdirectionat the outer end, whereby-said fluid has radially-outwardmotion, and a circular series of impelling-noz'zles, on the casingadjacent and opposite to" said'rotating as-i sageways and adapted todirect said uid into the latter.-

1 15. An elastic-fluid turbine comprising a discoid rotating memberhaving a plurality of circular series of crescent-shaped hollows ran ed'to receive the motive fluid in a partial y-tangential direction at 'the'inner end and reflect it in a partially-tangential direcforming bucketson one side thereof, each-ar tion at the outer end, whereby said fluidhas a radially-outward motion, a circular series I of tangentiallyaxially positioned impellingg nozzles adjacent and opposite to saidrotating buckets and. adapted to direct said fluid against the latter,and a plurality of valves adapted to close independently. the respectivenozzles. v 5

16, 'An elastic-fluid turbine comprising a discoid rotating memberhaving a plurality of circular series of laterally-reentrant bucketsextending into one side thereof, each arranged to receive a motive fluidWith respect aid rotatingibu'ckets and adapted to direct said fluidagainst the latter, a plurality of valves adapted to close independentlythe said nozzles respectively, and means for sucicessively opening andclosing saidfvalves in accordance with variations of the load;

17. An elastic-fluid impulse-turbine comprising a rotating discoidmember having several concentric series'of crescent shaped inclosedexpanding passage-ways formed in the face thereof, the passage-ways ofeach S8.

ries being adapted to receive theimotive-fluid in a tangential directionat their inner ends and'reflect and discharge it backwardly at theirouter ends, one or more stationary setsof. similar inclosed' expandingpassageways in the casing arranged opposite and adjacent,

to and between the successive pairs-of con- 'inpelling-nozzlesrespectively opposite to roo i to

centric'series of rotating passage-Ways adapted to receive the fluidfrom one set and V I reflect and discharge it into the next set, the

passage-Ways of the several series being arranged in radial ranks, andmeans for projectpassag'e mg a current of said fluid into the ways ofthe innermost series;

18. An elastic-fluid impulse turbine comf risin a rotatin discoid memberhavin sevr' t: i b

eral concentric series of buckets formed in the face thereof, thebuckets of each seriesbeing adapted to receive the motive fluid ina-pa'rtially-tangential direption attheirimier ends and: reflect anddischarge it backwardly' at their outer ends," one or more stationarysets

